Skip to main content

WHAT DOES ZINC DO TO OUR BODY?

WHAT IS ZINC?


Zinc is a nutrient that people need to stay healthy. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses.
The body also need zinc to make proteins and DNA, the genetic material in all cells.
During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood, the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly.
Zinc also helps wounds to heal and is important for proper senses of tastes and smell.

zinc

HOW MUCH ZINC DO I NEED?

LIFE STAGE                                                                        RECOMMENDED AMOUNT/DAY

Birth to 6 months                                                                    2mg
Infants 7 - 12 months                                                              3mg
Children 1 - 3 years                                                                 3mg
Children 4 - 8 years                                                                 5mg
Children 9 - 13 years                                                               8mg
Teens 14 - 18 years (boys)                                                      11mg
Teens 14 - 18 years (girls)                                                       9mg
Adults (men)                                                                           11mg
Adults (women)                                                                      8mg
Pregnant Teens                                                                       12mg
Pregnant women                                                                     11mg            
Breastfeeding Teens                                                                13mg
Breastfeeding womens                                                            12mg

FOODS THAT PROVIDE ZINC

Zinc is found in variety of foods like;

  • Oysters, which are the best source of zinc.
  • Red meat, poultry, seafood such as crab and lobster , and fortified breakfast cereals , which are also good source of zinc.
  • Beans , nuts , whole grains , and dairy products provide some zinc.
Zinc is present in almost all multivitamin/mineral dietary supplements. It is also available alone or combined with calcium, magnesium , or other ingredients in dietary supplements.

Zinc is also found in some oral over the counter products including those labeled as homeopathic medications for colds. Use of nasal sprays and gels that contain zinc has been associated with the loss of the sense of smell,  in some cases long lasting or permanent.

Zinc is also present in some denture adhesive creams.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T GET ENOUGH ZINC?

Zinc deficiency can cause slow growth in infants and children, delayed sexual development in adolescent and impotence in men.
zinc deficiency also causes hair loss, diarrhoea, eye and skin sores and loss of apetite. weight loss, problems with wound healing , decreased ability to taste food and lower alertness levels can also occur.

CAN ZINC BE HARMFUL?

Signs of too much zinc include nausea, vomiting, loss of apetite, stomach cramps, diarrhea and headaches. when people take too much zinc for a long time , they sometimes have problem such as low copper levels , lower immunity and low levels of HDL cholesterol.

 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubt. Let me know

Popular posts from this blog

Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical Ventilation Mechanical ventilation is a device that breathes for someone who is unable to breathe for themselves. Mechanical ventilation is also called positive pressure ventilation. Following an inspiratory trigger , a predetermined mixture of oxygen is forced into the central airways and then flows into the alveoli.  Mechanical ventilators are set to deliver a constant volume , a constant pressure or a combination of both with each breath. Modes of ventilation that maintain a minimum respiratory rates regardless of whether or not the patient initiates a spontaneous breath are referred to as assist control. Because pressures and volumes are directly linked by the pressure volume curve, any given volume will correspond to a specific pressure, and vice versa, regardless of whether the ventilator is pressure or volume cycled. Why is it needed ?  Brain and spinal cord injury or disease :  An injury or disease to the brain can interfere with the signs that control ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Georgia's Youngest coronavirus victim

 The seven year old Georgia boy who became the youngest person in the state to die of coronavirus drowned in a bathtub after having seizure caused by his high fever, an autopsy found. The child, who has not been named, is believed to have COVID-19 after attending a church in Savannah where two elderly worshippers also died from the virus. Chatham County Coroner Bill Wessinger described the results of the boy's autopsy to CNN on Monday and said that seizures due to high fevers are very common in children with coronavirus. wessinger said that the boy died about two weeks before his death was reported by the county health department last Thursday. The boy had been found unresponsive in the bath and was pronounced dead at a hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19 postmortem, Wessinger said. The seizure conclusion came from a preliminary report, and the final report is still pending toxicology reports. The boy, who was African American , did not have any underlying health condit...
Post a Comment
Read more

TENNIS ELBOW(LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS)

TENNIS ELBOW : Tennis elbow is is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons becomes damaged from overuse . It happens when you work your elbow too much by repeating certain movements. Playing tennis or other racquet sports can cause this condition , however several other sports and activities can also put you on risk.                                         There is video of exercise attached ANATOMY OF THE ELBOW JOINT: Elbow joint is a joint made up of three bones: Humerus(upper arm bone) Two bones in forearm(radius and ulna) There are bony bumps at the bottom of the humerus called epicondyles.  The bony bump on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow is called lateral epicondyle. Muscles , ligaments and tendons hold the elbow joint together. The forearm muscles extend yo...
Post a Comment
Read more